North Shore Music Theatre, the popular in-the-round Massachusetts theatre that shuttered due to debt in 2009, officially reopens under new management July 8 with the classic Stephen Sondheim-Arthur Laurents-Jule Styne musical Gypsy. Vicki Lewis ("NewsRadio," Broadway's Damn Yankees, Chicago) heads the cast as Rose.

Vicki Lewis in Gypsy.
Photo by Paul Lyden

Previews began July 6. Directed and choreographed by Richard Sabellico, the musical will play the Massachusetts venue through July 25.

Gypsy features a score by Jule Styne (music) and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics) and a book by Arthur Laurents. The musical bowed on Broadway in May 1959 at the Broadway Theatre, playing 702 performances before closing at the Imperial Theatre, where it later transferred, on March 25, 1961. Ethel Merman created the role of Rose in the original production; subsequent Broadway Roses include Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Bernadette Peters and Patti LuPone. Merman and Peters were Tony-nominated for their performances; Lansbury, Daly and LuPone won the coveted award. For tickets call (978) 232-7200, visit www.nsmt.org, or in person at 62 Dunham Rd., Beverly, MA.